Combined lighting device and radio receiver or loudspeaker



L. L. L. PETEL COMBINED LIGHTING DEVICE AND.RADIO RECEIVER OR LOUD SPEAKER Filed Aug. 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN wslvra e July 3, 1951 L. L. L. PETEL COMBINED LIGHTING DEVICE AND RADIO RECEIVER OR LOUD SPEAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Filed Aug. 1, 1947 INVEN 7-0/2.-

llllll llllllll 2 w .wwasmnsquhh July 3, 1951 L. L. PETEL COMBINED LIGHTING DEVICE AND RADIO RECEIVER OR LOUD SPEAKER 3 Shgets-Shegt 5 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 IN vE/YTa/e:

Patented July 3, 1951 COMBINED LIGHTING DEVICE AND RADIO RECEIVER OR LOUDSPEAKER Louis Lon Lucien Ptel, Levallois Perret, France Application August 1, 1947, Serial No. 765,614 In France July 30, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires July 30, 1966 4 Claims. (01. 250-14) The present invention relates to a combined lighting device and radio receiver or loudspeaker.

A radio receiving apparatus is to be found in almost every modern home, and various articles of furniture have been designed to house a radio so as to harmonize it, more or less successfully, with the decorating scheme of a home.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an occasional lamp having a radio receiver, together with its loudspeaker, completely concealed within said lamp, only the control and adjusting means for the radio receiver being visible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loudspeaker device concealed in a movable ornamental lamp as an additional loudspeaker to be connected to a conventional receiver or to a concealed receiver according to the present invention.

When not in operation, the receiver remains hidden and the occasional lamp, which is preferably movable on rollers, may be located in any room of the house.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in crosssection, of a combined radio set and lighting device according to the invention, with parts broken away opposite to the radio set and its loudspeaker, and the lamp-shade shown in dotand-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section at right angles to the dial of the radio set of Fig. l but to an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a combined radio set and lighting device according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section showing the mounting of the body of the radio set in the upper portion of the device;

Fig. 5 is a view of the top of the body of the radio set seen from above;

Fig. 6 is a View of the bottom of the body of v The combined radio set and lighting device I rests on a heavy pedestal 2 which imparts stability thereto. The pedestal may be provided with rollers not shown. The vertical column 3, which may be made of wood for example, is recessed, square in cross-section, and decorated with small angle pillars l. The wiring of the circuits and adjusting means of the radio set are concealed in this column 3. Corresponding with the radio adjusting thumb wheels 8, 9, Ill there are provided false thumb wheels on each of the other three faces of the column, not shown in the drawing, so that the four faces of the column 3 have an identical appearance.

The radio set 4 is contained in a metallic casing i3 internally lined with asbestos and externally decorated to harmonize with the column 3 on which it is supported. The dial ll of the set is covered with a plate l2 of transparent, highly reflecting material concealing the dial when the set is not in operation. Ornamental patterns similar to the plate l2 are placed on the other three faces of the column 3, not seen in Fig. 1.

The solid pedestal 2 is formed with an air inlet at the bottom which provides a natural draught through the interior of the column 3, the warm air escaping through outlets provided in the top cover of the radio set 4, the heating of which is thus limited.

The loudspeaker 5 and the lighting device 6 are superimposed on the casing 13 of the set 4.

The loudspeaker 5 is concealed in a shell [4 internally lined with a sound absorbing material such as asbestos wool (see Fig. 11). The sounds produced by the loudspeaker are reflected downwards from a screen or baffle [5 the surface of which is polished.

The screen l5 allows the sound issuing from the upper face of the membrane of the loudspeaker 5 to pass through a central opening [6; the indirect lighting cone ll and the fins l8 supporting it act as vanes for distributing and directing the sounds above the bafile l5. The cone I! is connected on its support by interposed resilient anti-vibratory means.

As a result of the above-described arrangement, two bands of sound of equal intensity are propagated on each side of the bafile I5, which is perfectly transparent to the light issuing from the direct lamps l9.

The lamp shade 22 shown in dot-and-dash lines conceals the loudspeaker 5 with its accessories.

The adjusting thumb-Wheels, such as 8, are in the form of an arcuate sector. The thumbwheel 8 is movable on a spindle 2i and drives through a cable transmission a pulley 23 movable on a spindle 22, then, through a pulley as the spindle of which is normal to the spindle 22, the pulley 2t and the spindle 25 of the luminous dial ii; the pulley ii in turn mounted on the spindle 25, by means or" an endless wire drives the pulley mounted on the spindle Sill or the variable condenser is i.

All the controls and adjustment knobs of the set may be shaped and arranged in a similar manner or they may comprise any other known transmission means concealed in the column 3.

A loudspeaker such as 3 mounted on a stand 33 with its accessories and combined with direct and indirect lighting devices may be installed as a portable lamp to be used as an additional loudspeaker.

It is obvious that a similar apparatus to the one'just described may be embodied in the form of an ornamental portable lamp.

The radio set may operate with any type of current supply and be of any model suiting with any form of lighting device or other ornamental lamp, without exceeding the scope of the present invention as defined above.

However, the radio set will preferably be mounted on a body of standard type enabling ready replacement of the set in the event of a breakdown.

There is illustrated, in Fig. 3, at 34 a pedestal for a lighting device, at 35 the conical column of said device and at 36 the cylindrical casing in which is arranged the radio set.

The pedestal 34 is made of wood and is of circular shape. It is mounted on ball bearings ill to facilitate its displacements. At the bottom of the pedestal 3 there is secured a cast-iron base-plate 38 providing improved stability for the device. Above said pedestal 3i. and within the base of the tapered column 35 there is arranged a wooden reinforcing bush 3%). Said bush is hollowed out axially to receive a hollow tube 4E3 comprising a shoulder M, 12 resting on the upper part of the bush 39. The lower end of the tube it is screw-threaded so as to receive a clamping nut 53 engaging shoulders formed in a cavity of the base-plate 38. The upper part of the casing Si; is formed with ventilating apertures and the tube ill being hollow, ventilation and cooling of the radio set is ensured by circulation of air flowing from the base to the top of the lighting device. To prevent the settling of any dust on the sensitive elements of the set, there is arranged at the lower part of the tube 40 a dust filter which may for instance comprise a very fine wire mesh.

The tapered column 35 is made of ply-wood and comprises the various control members and transmission means for the radio set. There is shown at 44 the antenna line which is stretched along the inner wall of the tapered column 35. For that purpose said column internally comprises a circular ring 45 to which are secured the ends of the antenna and the various points of transfer. ihe upper part of the bush 39 also serves as an attachment for the lowermost points of the antenna 44. Between the circular ring s and the upper part of the tapered column 35, there are arranged the control thumb-wheels 46, only an arcuate sector of which projects out of one of the sides of the tapered column 35. Said thumb-wheels are provided either for the control of the variable condenser 41 or for the quality, sound volume or station selection.

Transmission of the control to the variable condenser is efiected through a cable 18 rolled at one end around the spindles of the thumbwheels 46 and at the other end over transmission pulleys 49. Said cable is then passed over the spindle of the rotary drum all connected with the variable condenser through nector members 51. Transmission of the control from the quality and sound-volume controlling thumb-wheels is effected by a sprocket chain 52 engaging sprocket pinions mounted respectively on the spindles of the thumb-wheels db and on the shaft 53. The shaft 53 is then connected with the corresponding elements of the radio set through universal joints 54.

On the top of the tapered column rests a base plate 55 for supporting the body of the radio set. The body of the set comprises two superimposed plates 56, 571' maintained suitably spaced by spacers as will be described later. The plate 58 rests on the base-plate 55 and supports the contact members for the various wave-length bands and the quality and sound-volume correctors. The upper plate supports the various amplifiers and detector stages. The cylindrical casing 36 resting on the base-plate 55 is made of aluminum so as to form a shielding and is internally lined with an asbestos lining 58. On the top of the casing (it is supported a circular wooden ridge 59 formed with vents W, said ridge 59 serving as a support for the loudspeaker and the lighting device.

Fig. 4 illustrates the assembly of the upper portion of the device and the means for securing the body of the radio set in its casing. The plates 56, 5! are interconnected by three fixed spacers iii. The body in turn is secured to the baseplate 55 through three threaded rods provided with spacers E52 connecting the base-plate 555 with the ridge 59 of the device and which block the body on its support by means of nuts and locknuts. Three shouldered nuts are moreover secured to the top of the rod 62 and are fitted into the ridge 59.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate an overhead view of the elements of the radio set which are arranged on the plates 55, El.

I11 the front view of the station selecting dial t3, the visible portion of the dial is surrounded with a mask es, the inner profile of which is in the form of a rectangle and the small sides of which are interconnected by a stretched wire t5 facilitating identification of the transmitting stations.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a partial cross-section of the actuating device for the variable condenser through cable 58 and the pulleys 49. There are also shown at 56, Ell the ornamental false thumb-wheels arranged at 126 with respect to the operative thumb-wheels 4B. The flexible supply cable for the combined radio set and lighting device, not shown, is armoured and preferably concealed in a moulding of the device. The armouring is electrically connected with the body of the set and with a ground connection.

In Fig. 9 there is shown the lighting device adapted to be attached to the ridge 59. Said device comprises a wooden stand 68 through which extend the supply wires 69, ill for the middle lamp ll and the side lamps 19. The wire 69 extends axially of a shouldered tube, then through the magnetic axis of the loudspeaker 5. The baiile I5 is arranged between the side lamps i9, and the loudspeaker 5 arranged in a sound refiector "E9. The lamp H is mounted in a cone I? which internally acts as a light reflector and externally as a sound reflector. A regular distribution of the sound in the various lateral d1- rections is ensured by the symmetrical arrangement of the fins 18 secured on the external surface of the cone ll perpendicularly therewith.

Figs. and 11 illustrate details of an embodiment of the sound device.

Fig. 10 is an overhead view of the sound reflector 79 formed of asbestos board. The latter is symmetrically divided by vertical ribs 80, six in number, forming partitions. The internal surface of the reflector 19 is thus subdivided into six Sectors defining the sound distribution cham bers and which are alternately coated with varnish to emphasize the treble overtones, and with glass-wool, for instance, to emphasize the bass overtones.

Under the bottom of the pedestal 68 there is secured a base-plate 3| carrying the supply-plugs 82 for the loudspeaker Said loudspeaker 5 is held in place on the pedestal 68 by means of a bolt 83. The bolt $3 engages the central core 84 of the loudspeaker around Which is wound the fixed coil winding 85. In the magnetic gap 86 of the loudspeaker is arranged the movable coil 81 which is secured to the cylindrical flange of the vibratory membrane 88 which according to the invention is made of balsa wood and is consequently of a very light weight. The membrane is nearly fiat and comprises on its rear surface a paper deflector 88a. The membrane 88 is suspended through flexible membranes 89, '90 by which it is resiliently urged to its stable position.

Vibration of the vibratory membrane 88 thus causes the emission of sound upwards through the aperture in the bafiie l5 and downwards by reflection on the reflector l9 and on the lower surface of the bafiie I5. The baffle is supported by the cylindrical wall 9|, the base of which rests on the ribs 90.

It is obvious that without eXceeding the scope of the invention, modifications may be made in the embodiments described. In particular, while the device described is built of wood, it could be made of moulded material for example. Similarly, any existing type of radio set of a more or less large size could be arranged to fit into the device. Finally, the device will preferably be provided with a lamp-shade made of a fabric adapted to let sound pass readily.

What I claim is:

1. In a combined musical and lighting standard, a pedestal formed with a central hole, a hollow composite column having an axis of symmetry fitted on said pedestal, a radio receiver set housed within the upper portion of said column, a ridge for closing the upper part of said hollow column, said ridge being formed with a plurality of holes for cooperating with a central hole of said pedestal with a view to generate a circulation of cooling air for said radio set, means for tuning and controlling said radio receiver set located within said column between said pedestal and said set and one :part of which protrudes from said column, a plurality of reproductions of said apparent part on the outer surface of said column for giving thereto an ornamental appearance, a loud speaker connected with said receiver positioned over the same on said axis, said loudspeaker having a central core rigidly fitted on said ridge and a vibratory membrane resiliently connected with said column, indirect lighting means positioned on said axis and comprising a reflector open at the top the base of which is situated near and above said loud speaker and at 6 least a lamp mounted inside said reflector, a plurality of direct lighting means disposed around said indirect lighting means, a plurality of fins fitted on the outer surface of the reflector in planes enclosing the axis of symmetry, a shell provided with apertures through its upper wall, the inner wall of which is sound-neutralized and adapted to contain the loud speaker, a polished transparent bafile provided with assages for the direct lighting means and with a central aperture fixed above said loudspeaker opposite the shell apertures, whereby the sound waves emitted downwards by said loud speaker after successive reflections on the inner wall of said shell and on the interior surface of said bafiie are downwardly directed while the sound waves emitted upwards by said loud speaker are upwardly directed through the central aperture of said baffle, means for emphasizing separately the shrill and low tones, and means for connecting said lighting means and said radio receiver set with an electric current supply.

2. In a combined musical and lighting standard, a pedestal formed with a central hole, a hollow composite column having an axis of symmetry fitted on said pedestal, a radio receiver set housed within the upper portion of said column, a ridge for closing the upper part of said hollow column, said ridge being formed with a plurality of holes for cooperating with a central hole of said pedestal with a view to generate a circulation of cooling air for said radio set, means for tuning and controlling said radio receiver set located within said column between said pedestal and said set and one part of which protrudes from said column, a plurality of reproductions of said apparent part on the outer surface of said column for giving thereto an ornamental appearance, a loudspeaker connected with said receiver positioned over the same on said axis, indirect lighting means positioned on said axis and comprising a light reflector open at the top the base of which is situated near and above said loud speaker and at least a lamp mounted inside said reflector, a plurality of direct lighting means disposed around said indirect lighting means, means for directing simultaneously the sounds emitted by said loud speaker downwards and upwards toward the outer surface of said reflector acting as sound reflector, a shell surrounding the loud speaker, the inner wall of which is sound-neutralized, a sound reflector provided with partitions dividing the same into compartments alternately polished and varnished inside and carried simultaneously by said loud speaker and said shell, and means for connecting said lighting'means and said radio receiver set with an electric current supply.

3. In a combined musical and lighting standard, a pedestal formed with a central hole, a hollow composite column having an axis of symmetry fitted on said pedestal, a loud speaker housed within the upper portion of said column on said axis, said loudspeaker having a central core rigidly fitted on said ridge and a vibratory loudspeaker and at least a lamp mounted inside said reflector, a plurality of direct lighting means disposed around said indirect lighting means, a plurality of fins fitted on the outer surface of the reflector in planes enclosing the axis of symmetry, a shell provided with apertures through its upper wall, the inner wall of which is sound neutralized and adapted to contain the loud speaker, a polished transparent baffle provided with passages for the direct lighting means and with a central aperture fixed above said loud speaker opposite the shell aperture, whereby the sound waves emitted downwards by said loud speaker after successive reflections on the inner wall of said shell and on the interior surface of said bafiie are downwardly directed while the sound waves emitted upwards by said loud speaker are upwardly directed through the central aperture of said baiiie, means for emphasizing separately the shrill and low tones, means for connecting said lighting means with an electric current supply, and means for connecting said loud speaker with a radio receiver set.

4. In a combined musical and lighting standard, a pedestal formed with a central hole, a hollow composite column having an axis of symmetry fitted on said pedestal, a loud speaker housed within the upper portion of said column on said axis, means for controlling said loud speaker located within said column between said pedestal and said set and one part of which protrudes from said column, a plurality of reproductions of said apparent part on the outer surface of said column for giving thereto an ornamental appearance, indirect lighting means positioned on said axis and comprising a light reflector open at the top the base of which is siturality of direct lighting means disposed around said indirect lighting means, means for directing simultaneously the sounds emitted by said loud speaker downwards and upwards toward the outer surface of said reflector acting as sound reflector, a shell surrounding the loud. speaker, the inner wall of which is sound-neutralized, a sound reflector provided with partitions dividing the same into compartments alternately polished and varnished inside and carried simultaneously by said loud speaker and said shell, means for connecting said lighting means with an electric current supply, and means for connecting said loud speaker with a radio receiver set.

LOUIS LEON LUCIEN PE'TEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,218,327 Crowley Oct. 15, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 528,944 Great Britain Nov. 11, 1940 821,802 France Sept. 6, 1937 

